Turfway Park’s Bruce Battaglia provides daily picks and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Race 1
CITIZEN CESAR has finished up close in all four career starts using his speed and drops in class tonight. LABRADOR makes his debut from the barn of red hot trainer Wesley Ward. ARIZONA BABY had little chance at Keeneland breaking from the twelve post but recovered with a bullet work last week.
RACE 2
DUVAL ST. is a quick gelding who beat $15,000 milers at Churchill in June them made it two in a row easily wiring routers with Ouzts in the irons tonight. SHADY CREEK comes in from a sharp barn. SKY BLUE MONGOLIA has a win at Ellis this past summer and has been consistent.
Race 3
SHORT KAKES ran second for $40,000 maiden claiming then second in straight maiden at Monmouth. Her works have been good and she figures prominently. KATHY’S CHANCE got tired on the lead at Churchill in a tough maiden race. She gets treated with Lasix for the first time and may have bled last out. ROSSINI SUNRISE had a solid second at Keeneland on a sloppy track and may do better on a dry surface.
Race 4
REBEL RESERVE is a four year old who has a huge class advantage and looks much better than the others. SIR GARY likes the synthetic and should run big tonight. WOLF BAYOU always runs hard at this level
Race 5
SCOUT IT OUT won back to back races at Belmont for $40,000 then after nearly a year off was beaten only four lengths here. She needed that race and should be a factor with Alonso Quinonez up. LIPSTICK STAIN has speed and likes the track. COLOR ME BLUSH has several good races over the track.
Race 6
SWIFT ONE is a four year old expensive son of Munnings and has been training fast at Keeneland them moved to Aqueduct for several more practice runs. He looks like the class of this field. KINGS WISH has shown big improvement lately. RIVER KID was beaten four lengths in his debut and probably needed the race.
Race 7
KIAWAH’S WARRIOR was in top form at Ellis but ran into a miserable trip when drawing from the twelve post and lost all chance. He figures to improve in this spot. HARD LUCK MONK was in good form until last out when forced wide throughout and was never a factor. KING’S HOUSE comes off his best race of the year when changing trainers.
Race 8
FREETHINKER won easily at Kentucky Downs and then was fourth in a Grade 3 at Keeneland. PRINCESS DROSSIE has won two with two seconds from her last five starts and has to be considered in the gimmicks. EQHO has an impressive two wins, one second and one third from six starts and has plenty of class.
Race 9
BRENDA’S CONQUEST come off her best three races this year and is sitting on a big win. ITS SO E A has been running against classier. SITTIN SMITTIN hasn’t performed since last June but her works are good and she should be ready.